I went online to do some research, and have found quite a few opposing views. Some say not to worry, and others say get him tested! Autism is not a wait-and-see friendly approach!
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/autism_signs_symptoms.htm is a wonderful website that draws out and explains many concerns. They provide a list of several of the symptoms to watch for, or 'warning' signs.
- Doesn’t make eye contact (e.g. look at you when being fed).
- Doesn't smile when smiled at.
- Doesn't respond to his or her name or to the sound of a familiar voice.
- Doesn’t follow objects visually.
- Doesn't point or wave goodbye or use other gestures to communicate.
- Doesn’t follow the gesture when you point things out.
- Doesn’t make noises to get your attention.
- Doesn’t initiate or respond to cuddling.
- Doesn’t imitate your movements and facial expressions.
- Doesn’t reach out to be picked up.
- Doesn’t play with other people or share interest and enjoyment.
- Doesn’t ask for help or make other basic requests.
Their pediatrician will test him at his 18 month checkup, simply because of his older brother. But how will she be able to tell in a fifteen minute window of something that took several months or years to diagnose in his brother?
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1895357,00.html Time Magazine has as an excellent article on this. It explains how babies are sometimes put in an “at risk” category. Unfortunately, with a wait and see approach it’s something that often gets overlooked. Then when it comes time for treatment, you’ve already lost so much valuable time. Even if the time comes where he is technically cleared, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to stop watching him and wondering.
Excellent start, Rachel. Very good incorporation of internet resources into your own personal thoughts. I like the way you've chosen a topic that you can connect with personally--that shows that you are truly making an effort to learn more about an area of concern.
ReplyDeleteAs you continue, maybe you want to think about how the family will need to adapt if Jackson is diagnosed somewhere on the Autism spectrum, how challenging it will be with two children with two different disabilities, etc. You may also consider how the family should approach schooling in the next few years assuming the children need special accommodations.
Looking forward to reading more on the topic.
-gabe
Rachel, I found what you posted on autism very interesting. I’m not very familiar with autism, so reading your blog about your personal experience as well as the URL you posted was a great starting point for me to find out more. I never knew assessing began so early for autism, and I found the list of symptoms to look for very interesting. I know that children with autism are included in many regular education classrooms, so it is important for all teachers to have at least a basic knowledge of autism. After reading your blog, I looked in the index of our book and went to page 234 to read about behavioral needs of children with autism. I read that children with Asperger’s syndrome tend to have a greater risk for behavior and social problems. It said that their behavior could be different depending on their environment. Therefore, one behavior plan would not work; you would need to have something in place that covered every setting of the school day. When I read the list of those self-stimulatory behaviors from your URL, it made me realize how these behaviors could trigger other children in the class to pick on the child or to be afraid of him. The teacher would have to exhibit a positive, accepting attitude so that everyone in the classroom is accepted regardless of their differences.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting and touching blog. I have had experience working with children who have been diagnosed with autism, but it was children who were older. it seems that autism is becoming more frequent in children and I know it must be a full time job having two children diagnosed with such disabilities. I surely did not know all of the symptoms that you posted and I will know pay closer attention to these symptoms in my nephew and children I work with. My prayers goes out to your family and I hope his testing goes as well as it can go.
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